Council delivers its annual report

TOOWOOMBA Regional Council cut its spending on outside consultants yet remains more than two years from returning an operating surplus, according to its annual report.

Council held a special meeting at City Hall yesterday to adopt the 2010-2011 annual report, the document that explains how the $3.8 billion business performed last financial year.

It revealed that during the last financial year it had spent more than $6.5 million on outside consultants, down from $10.4 million.

However, in the latest report, that figure does not appear.

Instead, the report claims only $7.8 million was spent on outside consultants in the 2009-2010 financial year.

That was due to a change in financial reporting classification, according to a council spokesman.

Staff wages increased by almost $5 million to $77.5 million.

During 2010-2011, council employed 1616 people, 1074 of which were men and 542 women.

Councillors were paid a combined $1.073 million in remuneration and $48,160 in amalgamation loading.

They spent a combined $11,791 on accommodation, $22,019 on professional development and $2463 on meals.

For the first time, the annual report revealed the remuneration ranges of Toowoomba Regional Council's executive employees.

One executive received between $300,000-$350,000, five executives between $200,000- $250,000 and one executive between $100,000-$150,000.

Traditionally, the chief executive officer of an organisation is the highest paid executive.

The remuneration range includes annual salary, superannuation and non-cash benefits.

Despite an operating deficit of $7.2 million in 2010-2011, Corporate Services spokesman Cr John McVeigh said it was likely council would return to an operating budget surplus by 2013-2014.

"This is one plan that I can assure you is definitely worth sticking to," he said.

The annual report lists the establishment of council's Toowoomba-based customer service centre, a shift to a functional structure and better long-term financial sustainability as the highlights of the financial year.

However, Mayor Peter Taylor said 2010-2011 would also be remembered for the tragic floods that gripped the region for almost two months.